The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia continue to advance plans to develop an integrated electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain, with the initiative remaining a key focus during DRC Mining Week in Lubumbashi. Four years after Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Hakainde Hichilema signed a cooperation agreement in 2022, industry leaders, policymakers and investors are assessing progress as both countries seek to move beyond raw mineral exports and establish a competitive battery materials industry.
The partnership aims to position the Copperbelt as a regional hub for mineral processing, precursor material production and, eventually, battery component manufacturing. Together, Zambia and the DRC hold some of the world’s largest reserves of copper and cobalt, minerals that are critical to electric vehicles, renewable energy storage systems and advanced technologies.
Rather than exporting unprocessed minerals, both governments are working to capture greater value from their natural resources by developing downstream industries. While full-scale battery manufacturing remains a long-term objective, industry experts believe the greatest near-term opportunities lie in refining, chemical processing and cathode precursor production, which offer higher value than raw mineral exports while requiring lower levels of investment.
To support implementation, the two countries established the DRC–Zambia Battery Council to coordinate policy, infrastructure development and investment promotion. Success will depend on reliable electricity supply, improved transport and logistics networks, regulatory certainty and the ability to attract global technology partners and private investment.
For investors, the discussion has shifted from resource availability to whether the Copperbelt can develop the industrial capacity needed to compete in the global battery supply chain.
If successfully implemented, the initiative could become one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most significant industrialisation projects, linking mining centres such as Lubumbashi and Kolwezi in the DRC with Kitwe and Ndola in Zambia. The strategy also aligns with the African Mining Vision, which promotes using the continent’s mineral resources to drive industrialisation, economic diversification and long-term value addition.
While challenges remain, the DRC–Zambia battery partnership continues to attract international attention as both countries work to transform the Copperbelt into a future centre for battery materials processing and clean energy manufacturing.
